Rule 3 Proceedings When Actions Commenced by Filing with Territorial Registrar

Upon receipt of the file transmitted by the Territorial Registrar or Secretary of Samoan Affairs, the clerk of court shall file the papers and assign a case number, thereby commencing the action in the High Court. The case shall be styled “In re matai Title ‘_____________’, Village of ___________,” In re Registration of Land ‘__________’, Village of ________________”. The clerk shall forthwith notify all parties by appropriate means that the matter has been transferred to the land and titles division of the High Court. In an action to register a matai title, the clerk shall provide each party, claimant, counter-claimant or objector with a questionnaire. The questionnaire must be filed with the court within 30 days of receipt; failure to file within that time may subject the party to dismissal of the action. A copy of the questionnaire to be employed by the court appears in Appendix I hereto. Upon receipt of all questionnaires from the parties, the clerk shall set a pretrial conference. In a matter not pertaining to registration of a matai title, the clerk shall set a pretrial conference at the time he notifies the parties that the matter has been filed in the land and titles division.